CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No.
2018-27023 filed with the Japan Patent Office on February 19, 2018, the entire contents of which
are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a game management system for managing a casino
game played on a gaming table of a casino facility (game hall).
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY
[0003] A plurality of gaming tables are installed in a casino facility, and a casino operator
wants to increase sales of the whole casino facility, that is, a total bet amount
of all players. A plurality of gaming tables are closed or opened according to the
number of players. In a closed gaming table, a game is not played and a player cannot
play a game. A dealer is placed in an opened gaming table, a game is played, and a
player can play a game.
[0004] In each gaming table, a minimum bet amount is set. The minimum bet amount is the
lowest bet amount on the gaming table, and in a single game, a player should bet an
amount equal to or more than the minimum bet amount set for the gaming table. The
minimum bet amount is set for each gaming table.
[0005] In each gaming table, the number of players playing a game is not fixed, a game may
be performed by a small number of players, and may be performed by a large number
of players. Conventionally, as the number of tables played by a large number of players
increases, the casino operators understand the increased number of tables to execute
operations by, for example, opening a closed gaming table.
[0006] In a certain gaming table, if a player (high betting player) playing a game with
a bet amount sufficiently more than the minimum bet amount and a player (low betting
player) playing a game with the minimum bet amount or a slightly higher bet amount
are mixed, the sales of the whole casino facility are likely to be kept low.
[0007] FIG. 19 is a diagram for describing such a situation. As shown in an upper part of
FIG. 19, it is assumed that the minimum bet amount is set at 1,000 dollars in a certain
play table, and one high betting player with a bet amount of about 10,000 dollars
is playing a game. At this time, it is assumed that an average time required for one
game is 60 seconds, and an average sales per hour are 600,000 dollars.
[0008] If three low betting players with a bet amount of about 1,000 dollars are added to
the gaming table, the total bet amount for the gaming table will increase to about
13,000 dollars, but an average time required for one game will also increase with
the increase in the number of players. Assuming that a playtime increases by 10 seconds
whenever the number of players increases by one, the approximate time required for
one game becomes 90 seconds if the number of players is four. As a result, the sales
per hour are likely to decrease from about 600,000 dollars to about 520,000 dollars.
In this way, since the high betting player and the low betting player are mixed in
the same gaming table, even if the number of players increases, the sales of the casino
operator decrease.
[0009] FIGS. 20A and 20B are diagrams for describing another example. As shown in FIG. 20A,
the minimum bet amount for one of two gaming tables is set to 10,000 dollars and the
minimum bet amount for the other is set to 1,000 dollars. The average time when it
takes a high betting player to play one game on a gaming table is 70 seconds, and
the sales per hour are about 1,030,000 dollars. On the other hand, the average time
when it takes a low betting player to play one game on a gaming table is 90 seconds,
and the sales per hour are about 160,000 dollars. Therefore, the total sales per hour
of the two gaming tables are about 1,190,000 dollars.
[0010] In the example of FIG. 20B, the two high betting players of FIG. 20A are dispersed
in different gaming tables. That is, there are two gaming tables in which the minimum
bet amount is set to 1,000 dollars, and in any of the two gaming tables, one high
betting player with a bet amount of about 10,000 dollars and one low betting player
with a bet amount of about 1,000 dollars are playing a game. At this time, the average
time required for one game on each gaming table is 80 seconds, the sales per hour
are about 540,000 dollars, and the total sales per hour in the two gaming tables are
about 1,080,000 dollars.
[0011] In this way, if the high betting player is dispersed in a plurality of gaming tables
and the high betting player and the low betting player is mixed in each gaming table,
the sales of the casino operator are likely to decrease (in the case of FIGS. 20A
and 20B, from 1,190,000 dollars to 1,080,000 dollars).
[0012] As in the above example, since the high betting player and the low betting player
are mixed in the gaming table without properly setting the minimum bet amount, there
is a problem in that not only the sales of the casino operator decrease, but also
the time when it takes the high betting player to play one game is long, which leads
to a problem that it is difficult to comfortably play a game.
[0013] An object of the present disclosure is to improve sales of a casino operator by determining
an appropriate minimum bet amount for a gaming table in a game management system for
managing a casino game played on a gaming table of a casino facility, thereby enabling
an operation of the casino facility where a high betting player can comfortably play
a game.
[0014] A game management system according to one aspect of the present invention is a game
management system for managing a casino game played on a gaming table of a casino
facility, in which the game management system includes: an information processing
device which specifies a bet amount at each player position on a gaming table on the
basis of positions, types, and number of bet gaming tokens; a player number determination
device which determines the number of players participating in a game on the gaming
table; and a management control device which determines a recommended value of the
minimum bet amount for each gaming table on the basis of information on the bet amount
specified by the information processing device and information on the number of players
determined by the player number determination device.
[0015] With this configuration, the recommended value of the minimum bet amount is determined
on the basis of the bet amount at each player position on the gaming table and the
number of players, so that it is possible to increase the sales of the casino operator
and enable the operation of the casino facility where the high betting player can
comfortably play a game. The information processing device may determine the position,
the type and the number of gaming tokens on the basis of the image obtained by photographing
the bet gaming token or the position, the type, and the number of gaming tokens by
other devices.
[0016] In the above game management system, the management control device may be configured
to be capable of determining transition of the bet amount in the plurality of games
at each player position.
[0017] The game management system may further include a game result determination device
capable of determining a result of a game, in which the management control device
may be configured to be capable of determining a win and loss and an income and expenditure
at each player position on the basis of the information on the bet amount specified
by the information processing device and information on the result of the game determined
by the game result determination device.
[0018] In the game management system, the management control device may determine the recommended
value of the minimum bet amount for each gaming table on the basis of the information
on the transition of the bet amounts at each player position or the transition of
the income and expenditure at each player position.
[0019] With this configuration, the recommended value of the minimum bet amount can be determined
on the basis of the transition of the bet amount or and the income and expenditure.
For example, the relatively small amount may be determined as the recommended value
of the minimum bet amount when the bet amount of many players tends to decrease in
a certain table. As another example, for example, when the income and expenditure
of many players tends to increase in a certain table, the relatively large amount
may be determined as the recommended value of the minimum bet amount.
[0020] In the game management system, the management control device may include a function
of determining the congestion degree of each area within the casino facility on the
basis of the information on the number of players determined by the player number
determination device, and determining the recommended value of the minimum bet amounts
for each gaming table of each area depending on the congestion degree.
[0021] With this configuration, it is possible to determine the recommended value of the
minimum bet amount so that the player is guided to a specific area on the basis of
the congestion degree in the casino facility.
[0022] In the game management system, the management control device may include a function
of determining the recommended value of the minimum bet amount divided into a plurality
of stages on the basis of information on the number of players determined by the player
number determination device and information on the lowest amount among the bet amounts
at each player position or information on an average bet amount.
[0023] With this configuration, when the lowest bet amount or the average bet amount is
high, it is possible to determine the recommended value of the high minimum bet amount.
[0024] In the game management system, the management control device may include a function
of increasing the recommended value of the minimum bet amount when the players betting
an amount equal to or more than a predetermined ratio with respect to the minimum
bet amount for the gaming table is a predetermined ratio or more.
[0025] With this configuration, it is possible to exclude the low betting player by increasing
the recommended value of the minimum bet amount when the ratio of the high betting
player is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.
[0026] In the game management system, the management control device may include a function
of determining the number of gaming tables that is opened in the casino facility,
and determining the recommended number of gaming tables to be opened in each area
depending on the congestion degree.
[0027] With this configuration, it is possible to open the gaming table in an appropriate
area depending on the congestion degree so that the sales of the whole casino facility
increase.
[0028] In the game management system, the management control device may include a function
of recording the transition of the congestion degree in each area, and determining
the recommended number of gaming tables to be opened in each area on the basis of
the recorded information on the transition.
[0029] With this configuration, it is possible to predict the congestion degree on the basis
of the transition of the congestion degree to open the gaming table.
[0030] The game management system may further include a player identification unit which
identifies a player participating in a game on the gaming table, and the management
control device may include a function of associating information on each player identified
by the player identification unit with bet amounts at each player position identified
by the information processing device and storing the associated data in a database
and a function of determining the recommended number of gaming tables to be opened
in each area on the basis of information on the past bet tendency of each of the players.
[0031] With this configuration, it is possible to determine the recommended number of gaming
tables to be opened in each area on the basis of the bet tendency of each player.
[0032] In the game management system, the management control device may determine the minimum
bet amount of a newly opened gaming table on the basis of the minimum bet amount for
the gaming table around the newly opened gaming table.
[0033] With this configuration, when a new gaming table is opened, the minimum bet amount
for the gaming table can be determined to be the same amount as or a different amount
from the minimum bet amount for the gaming table around the newly opened gaming table.
[0034] In the game management system, the management control device may determine the minimum
bet amount of a newly opened gaming table on the basis of the bet amount specified
by the information processing device for the gaming table around the newly opened
gaming table.
[0035] With this configuration, when the new gaming table is opened, the minimum bet amount
for the gaming table can be determined depending on the actual bet amount for the
gaming table around the newly opened gaming table.
[0036] In the game management system, the management control device may manage the number
of dealers and determine whether or not to newly open a gaming table on the basis
of the number of dealers under management.
[0037] With this configuration, it is possible to open the new gaming table on the basis
of the number of dealers.
[0038] In the game management system, the management control device may change the minimum
bet amount for the gaming table around the newly opened gaming table as a gaming table
is newly opened.
[0039] With this configuration, it is possible to urge a player to move from the already
opened gaming table to the newly opened gaming table.
[0040] In the game management system, the management control device may determine the recommended
value of the minimum bet amount for each gaming table so as to increase a profit ratio
to sales.
[0041] With this configuration, it is possible to increase the profit ratio to sales by
setting the minimum bet amount according to the recommended value. The management
control device may determine the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for each
gaming table so as to maximize the profit ratio to sales.
[0042] In the game management system, the management control device may determine the recommended
value of the minimum bet amounts for each gaming table so as to increase the number
of games per unit time or an average value of the total bet amounts per game.
[0043] With this configuration, it is possible to increase the number of games per unit
time or the average value of total bet amount per game by determining the minimum
bet amount according to the recommended value. The management control device may determine
the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for each gaming table so as to maximize
the number of games per unit time or the average value of the total bet amounts per
game.
[0044] In the game management system, the management control device may determine the total
bet amount of each player for each game, and/or each predetermined time or period,
for each of the gaming tables, and determine the recommended value of the minimum
bet amount for each gaming table.
[0045] With this configuration, it is possible to determine the recommended value of the
appropriate minimum bet amount for each gaming table.
[0046] In the game management system, the management control device may manage the plurality
of gaming tables, determine the total bet amount of each player for each game and/or
each predetermined time or period in units of the plurality of gaming tables, and
determine different recommended value of the minimum bet amount for each of the plurality
of gaming tables.
[0047] With this configuration, it is possible to determine the recommended value of the
appropriate minimum bet amount by considering the plurality of gaming tables overall.
[0048] In the game management system, the management control device may manage the plurality
of gaming tables, determine the total bet amount of each player for each game and/or
each predetermined time or period in units of the plurality of gaming tables, and
determine the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for the newly opened gaming
table.
[0049] With this configuration, it is possible to determine the recommended value of the
newly opened minimum bet amount by considering the plurality of gaming tables overall.
[0050] In the game management system, the management control device may manage the plurality
of gaming tables, determine information on at least one item of the number of the
players, the bet amount, or the concentration or dispersion of the number of players
in the units of the plurality of gaming tables, and determine the recommended value
of the minimum bet amount for each gaming table on the basis of the information.
[0051] With this configuration, it is possible to determine the recommended value of the
appropriate minimum bet amount for each gaming table on the basis of the number of
players, the bet amount, the concentration or dispersion of the number of players
on the plurality of gaming tables, and the like in the plurality of gaming tables.
[0052] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary
embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the
exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0053]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the entire fraud detection system in a game
hall having a plurality of gaming tables according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a chip showing an example of different overlapping
states of understood chips in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the chip showing the example of different overlapping
states of the understood chips in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a card distribution device in the first embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a card in the first embodiment of the present
invention;
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a main portion of a state in which a card guide unit
of the card distribution device in the first embodiment of the present invention is
partially broken;
FIG. 6A is a side cross-sectional view of a main portion of a distribution limiting
device which limits an entry and exit of a card from a card storage portion of the
card distribution device in the first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6B is a side cross-sectional view of a main portion showing a modified example
of the distribution limiting device which limits the entry and exit of the card from
the card storage portion of the card distribution device in the first embodiment of
the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between output waveforms of sensors and
marks in the card distribution device in the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a casino facility incorporating a game management
system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a table showing sales (total bet amount)
for each gaming table according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a table showing sales for each game in
each gaming table according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a table showing a total bet amount, a profit
(gross profit), and a profit ratio for each gaming table according to the first embodiment
of the present invention;
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of polygonal line graphs showing transitions
of profits in each gaming table according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a graph showing a transition of profit
of the whole casino facility according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a bar graph showing profit ratios for each
gaming table according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a game management system
according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 16A is a diagram showing an example of determining a recommended value of a minimum
bet amount according to an actual bet amount;
FIG. 16B is a diagram showing an example of determining a recommended value of a minimum
bet amount according to the actual bet amount;
FIG. 17A is a diagram showing an example of determining a recommended value of a minimum
bet amount according to a congestion degree of a table;
FIG. 17B is a diagram showing an example of determining the recommended value of the
minimum bet amount according to the congestion degree of the table;
FIG. 18A is a diagram for describing an example of opening a new gaming table in a
certain area;
FIG. 18B is a diagram for describing an example of opening a new gaming table in a
certain area;
FIG. 18C is a diagram for describing an example of opening a new gaming table in a
certain area;
FIG. 19 is a diagram for describing a situation in which the sales of the entire casino
facility are kept low;
FIG. 20A is a diagram for describing another example of the situation in which the
sales of the entire casino facility are kept low; and
FIG. 20B is a diagram for describing still another example of the situation in which
the sales of the entire casino facility are kept low.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
(First Embodiment)
[0054] Real "sales" of a casino manager in casino facilities (a casino) are the total amount
of chips (gaming tokens) bet by a player. In addition, an amount obtained by subtracting
a paid amount from the sales is a profit (a gross profit) of the casino manager. However,
in the current casino, the sales or the profit are not capable of being managed. In
addition, a transition of the sales or the profit for each table or each pit is not
capable of being recognized in detail.
[0055] Therefore, an object of this embodiment is to recognize the sales or the profit in
all of the casinos, or the profit or the profit for each table or each pit.
[0056] In order to attain the object described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a
game management system managing a casino game performed in a plurality of tables in
casino facilities, the system including: a camera obtaining an image by capturing
bet gaming tokens; an information processing device specifying a betting amount on
the basis of the type and the number of gaming tokens in the image by specifying a
betting target on the basis of a position of the gaming token in the image; a game
result determination device determining a game result of the casino game; a calculation
device calculating a profit of a casino manager for each table and each game of the
plurality of tables, on the basis of the betting target, the betting amount, and the
game result; and a recording apparatus recording the profit.
[0057] The game result determination device may be an electronic shoe including a containing
portion containing playing cards, an extraction mechanism for extracting the playing
cards one by one from the containing portion, a detection unit detecting contents
of the playing cards extracted by the extraction mechanism, and a determination unit
determining a game result of a baccarat game according to a rule of the baccarat game,
on the basis of the contents of the playing cards detected by the detection unit.
[0058] In addition, another aspect of this embodiment is a game management system managing
a casino game performed in casino facilities, the system including: a betting detection
section detecting betting contents including a betting target and a betting amount
of the casino game; a game result determination section determining a game result
of the casino game; and a calculation section calculating a profit of a casino manager
on the basis of the betting contents and the game result.
[0059] The betting detection section may include a capturing section obtaining an image
by capturing the casino game, and an information processing section specifying the
betting contents on the basis of the image.
[0060] The information processing section may specify the betting contents on the basis
of the position, the type, and the number of gaming tokens in the image.
[0061] The information processing section may specify the betting contents on the basis
of the image, according to image recognition using a machine learning model.
[0062] The casino game may be a game using playing cards, and the game result determination
section may include, an electronic shoe including a containing portion containing
the playing cards, an extraction mechanism for extracting the playing cards one by
one from the containing portion, and a detection unit detecting contents of the playing
cards extracted by the extraction mechanism, and a determination section determining
a game result of the casino game according to a rule of the casino game, on the basis
of the contents of the playing cards detected by the detection unit.
[0063] The game management system may further include a dealer amount detection section
detecting a total amount of gaming tokens of a dealer, and the calculation section
may further calculate the profit, on the basis of the total amount.
[0064] An RF tag storing information of being capable of specifying at least a value of
the gaming token may be built in the gaming token, and the dealer amount detection
section may include an RF reader reading out the RF tag.
[0065] The betting detection section may detect the betting contents for each game, the
game result determination section may determine the game result for each game, and
the calculation section may calculate a profit for each game on the basis of the betting
contents and the game result of the same game.
[0066] The game management system may further include a table creation section creating
a table indicating the profit for each game.
[0067] The casino facilities may include a plurality of tables in which the casino game
is performed, the betting detection section and the game result determination section
may be disposed on each table, and the calculation section may calculate the profit
for each table, with respect to the plurality of tables.
[0068] The game management system may further include a table creation section creating
a table indicating the profit for each table.
[0069] The calculation section may further calculate a total betting amount on the basis
of the betting contents.
[0070] The calculation section may further calculate a profit rate on the basis of the profit
and the total betting amount.
[0071] The game management system may further include an alarming section generating an
alarm with respect to the profit rate of less than or equal to a predetermined threshold
value.
[0072] The game management system may further include an alarming section generating an
alarm with respect to the profit rate of greater than or equal to a predetermined
threshold value.
[0073] Still another aspect of this embodiment is a game management system managing a casino
game performed in a plurality of tables in casino facilities, the system including:
a camera obtaining an image by capturing bet gaming tokens, an information processing
device specifying a betting amount on the basis of the type and the number of gaming
tokens in the image; a calculation device calculating a total betting amount for each
table with respect to the plurality of tables; and a recording apparatus recording
the total betting amount for each table.
[0074] Still another aspect of this embodiment is a game management system managing a casino
game performed in a table of casino facilities, the system including: a camera obtaining
an image by capturing bet gaming tokens; an information processing device specifying
a betting amount on the basis of the type and the number of gaming tokens in the image;
a calculation device calculating a total betting amount for each game; and a recording
apparatus recording a transition of the total betting amount for each game.
[0075] The game management system of this embodiment is capable of recognizing the sales
(the total betting amount) or the profit for each of all or a part (the table) of
the casino facilities according to the configuration described above.
[0076] Hereinafter, a game management system of this embodiment will be described. FIG.
1 is a diagram illustrating the overview of the system. The game management system
in a casino having a plurality of gaming tables 4 is configured to include a game
recording apparatus 11 which records a progress of a game played on the gaming table
4 including a player 6 and a dealer 5 as an image through a plurality of cameras 2,
an image analyzing apparatus 12 which performs image analysis on the recorded image
of the progress of the game, and a card distribution device 3 which has a function
of determining a win or lose result of each game in the gaming table 4 and displaying
the win or lose result. The card distribution device 3 is a so-called electronic shoe
used by the skilled in the art and has a structure where a game rule is programmed
in advance and win or lose of the game can be determined by reading information of
the cards C distributed. For example, in a baccarat game, banker win, player win,
or tie is basically determined by a rank of two or three cards, and a determination
result (win or lose result) is displayed by a result display lamp 13.
[0077] The game management system is configured to further include a control device 14 which
compares the actual rank of the cards according to the result of the image analysis
by the image analyzing apparatus 12 and the win or lose result determined by the card
distribution device 3 to detect fraud (for example, mismatch between a sum of ranks
of distributed cards and a win or lose result) performed in the gaming table 4. The
card distribution device 3 has a structure capable of reading rank (A, 2 to 10, J,
Q, K) and suit (heart, spade, or the like) of the card C manually distributed by the
dealer 5. The control device 14 has a structure capable of determining match or mismatch
by checking information on rank and suit obtained from the image (captured by using
the camera 2) of each card distributed in the gaming table 4 by the image analyzing
apparatus 12 (using artificial intelligence) and information on rank and suit read
by the card distribution device 3. In this game management system, each of the image
analyzing apparatus 12 and the control device 14 has a structure including a computer
configured with an integrated or plural components, a program, and a memory in a complex
manner.
[0078] Each of the image analyzing apparatus 12 and the control device 14 has an artificial
intelligence utilizing type structure or a deep learning structure where, with respect
to even a card C which is distributed in the gaming table 4 and is folded or stained
by the player 6, information on rank of the card can be obtained. As illustrated in
FIG. 4, there occurs a situation where the stained card C is difficult to distinguish
clover from spade It. Even in this case, suit determination can be performed by image
analysis and determination using an aartificial intelligence utilizing type computer
or control system and a deep learning (structure) technique. In addition, although
the cards are slanted by "card squeegee" frequently performed by players in a baccarat
game or the like, the suits or ranks of the cards before deformation can be recognized
by using self-learning or the like of a large number of images in a modified example
by artificial intelligence utilizing type computer or control system and a deep learning
(structure) technique. Since the artificial intelligence utilizing type computer or
control system and a deep learning (structure) technique are well-known and available
by the skilled in the art, the description thereof is omitted.
[0079] The control device 14 having an artificial intelligence utilizing type structure
or a deep learning structure can recognize, through the camera 2 and the image analyzing
apparatus 12, the position (player, banker, or pair) of the betting area 8 on which
the player 6 wagers the chip 9 and the types (different amount values are designated
to different colors of the chips 9) and the number of the wagered chips 9. In many
case, the chips 9 are not aligned and stacked in the vertical direction, but as illustrated
in FIG. 2A, the chips are deviated and overlapped. In this case, it is assumed that,
when the camera 2 is disposed in a direction of an arrow X illustrated in FIG. 2A
(or when the direction of the chip 9 becomes a blind spot direction relatively), as
illustrated in FIG. 2B, the chip 9 is not seen (in a blind spot). In an artificial
intelligence utilizing type computer or control system and a deep learning (structure)
technique, by using a self-learning function or the like, concealing or the like (including
concealing of a portion of one chip and concealing of the entire chip) of the chip
9 caused by the blind spot is recognized, so that the number of chips or the like
can be accurately recognized. In this manner, since which position (player, banker,
or pair) of the betting area 8 the chips 9 are wagered on, types of wagered chips
9 (different amount values are designated to different colors of the chips 9), and
the number of chips can be recognized, the control device 14 determines by image analysis
of a progress of the game through the image analyzing apparatus 12 whether or not
collection (indicated by an arrow L) of lost chips wagered by the players 6 and redemption
(9W) for wined chips to the winning player 6W are correctly performed in accordance
with a win or lose result of the game determined by the card distribution device 3
for each game.
[0080] The control device 14 is capable of performing analysis and recognition of the total
amount of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 of the dealer 5 of the gaming table 4 by
using the image analyzing apparatus 12 and is capable of performing comparison calculation
according to the win or lose result of the game as to whether or not the total amount
of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 is increased or decreased according to the amount
of the collection of the lost chips 9 wagered by the players 6 and the redemption
9W of the winning chips of the winning player 6W after the end of the game and the
settlement. Although the total amount of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 are always
checked by means of RFID or the like, whether or not the increased or decreased amount
is correct is performed by the control device 14 allowing the image analyzing apparatus
12 to perform image analysis of the progress of the game. An artificial intelligence
utilizing type structure or a deep learning structure is used for these configurations.
[0081] In this example, since fraud or error is detected based on the information of the
win or lose result of the game, information as to what position (player, banker, or
pair) of the betting area 8 how many and what type of the chips 9 are wagered on,
and the increased/decreased amount of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after the collection
of the lost chips and the redemption for the winning chips 9, fraud or error can be
detected although the recognition of the movement of the chips 9 after the end of
the game, that is, the movement of the wagered chips 9 toward the player side or the
movement toward the dealer side is not performed.
[0082] Herein, for example, in the baccarat, the win or lose result of the game can be determined
in accordance with the rule of the baccarat by reading the rank of a card C fed out
in the game in the card distribution device 3. In addition, the win or lose result
of the game can be determined by capturing an image of the gaming table 4 by using
the camera 2, analyzing the image by using the image analyzing apparatus 12, and matching
the analysis result with the game rule by using the control device 14. In this case,
the camera 2, the image analyzing apparatus 12, and the control device 14 constitute
a win/lose result determining apparatus. Information on the players at each play position
7 and information as to what position (player, banker, or pair) of the betting area
8 how many and what type of the chips 9 are wagered on can be obtained by capturing
an image of the chips 9 placed on the betting area 8 by using the camera 2 and analyzing
the image at each play position 7 by using the image analyzing apparatus 12.
[0083] In addition, the increased/decreased amount of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 before
and after the collection of the lost chips 9 and the redemption for the winning chips
9 can be calculated by comparing total amount of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 before
the collection of the lost chips 9 and the redemption for the winning chips 9 and
the total amount of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after the collection of the lost
chips 9 and the redemption for the winning chips 9. The total amount of the chips
9 in the chip tray 17 before the collection of the lost chips 9 and the redemption
for the winning chips 9 and the total amount of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 after
the collection of the lost chips 9 and the redemption for the winning chips 9 can
be detected by capturing an image of the chip tray 17 containing the chips 9 by using
the camera 2 and analyzing the image by using the image analyzing apparatus 12. In
addition, the total amount of the chips 9 contained in the chip tray 17 may be detected
by burying RFIDs representing the amount is in the chips 9 and providing an RFID reader
to the chip tray 17.
[0084] For example, the total amount of the chips 9 in the chip tray 17 before the start
of the game is denoted by Bb, and the total amount of the chips 9 in the chip tray
17 after the end of the game and the end of the collection of the lost chips and the
redemption of the winning chip is denoted by Ba. In addition, in the game, the total
amount of the entire play positions 7 in the player area where the chips 9 are wagered
is denoted by bp, the total amount of the entire play positions 7 in the banker area
where the chips 9 are wagered is denoted by bb, and the total amount of the entire
play positions 7 in the tie area where the chips 9 are wagered is denoted by bt. For
example, in the case where the win or lose result of the game is banker win, Ba-Bb
= bp - bb + bt needs to be satisfied. Alternatively, the total amount Ba of the chips
9 in the chip tray 17 after the end of the game needs to be (Bb + bp - bb + bt). In
the case where the above condition is not satisfied, it may be determined that fraud
or mistake occurs in the collection of the chips or the redemption for the chips.
[0085] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the card distribution device 3 used in a table game
system according to the invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.
The card distribution device 3 is configured to include a card containing portion
102 which contains a plurality of shuffle playing cards is, a card guiding portion
105 which guides the shuffle playing card 1 when the dealer 5 or the like manually
extracts the shuffle playing card 1 one by one from the card containing portion 102
toward the gaming table 4, an opening portion 106 for taking the card 1 guided from
the card guiding portion 105, a card detecting unit (card detecting sensors 22 and
23) which detects that the shuffle playing card 1 is extracted when the shuffle playing
card 1 is extracted, a card reading unit 108 which reads information representing
at least the number (rank) of the shuffle playing card 1, a control unit 109 which
determines the win or lose of the card game based on the numbers (ranks) of the shuffle
playing cards 1 sequentially read by the card reading unit 108, a result display lamp
13 which displays the win or lose result determined by the control unit 109, a distribution
restricting device 30 which is provided to the opening portion 106 and restricts entering
and exiting of the card 1 from the card containing portion 102, and a management control
unit 114 having functions equivalent to the control device 14, and these components
are integrated. The card distribution device has a function where, in the case where
error or fraud of the dealer in the game is detected by the control device 14, the
further extraction of the card from the card distribution device 3 is stopped after
the time of the detection or at a predetermined timing.
[0086] Next, the distribution restricting device 30 which restricts the entering and exiting
of the cards 1 from the card containing portion 102 will be described with reference
to FIGS. 5 and 6A. The distribution restricting device 30 is provided to a card guide
107 of the card guiding portion 105 which guides the card 1 extracted one by one from
the opening portion 106 in the front side of the card containing portion 102 onto
the gaming table 4. The distribution restricting device 30 has a structure where,
when the card 1 passes through a slot 33 between the card guiding portion 105 and
the guide cover of the card guide 107, a lock member 34 presses the card 1 to prevent
the entering and exiting of the card 1 in the slot 33. The lock member 34 is moved
by a driving unit 35 such as an electronic solenoid or a piezoelectric device as illustrated
by an arrow m so as to take two states of a position (limiting position) of pressing
the card 1 and a pass enabling position of enabling the card 1 to pass. The driving
unit 35 is controlled by a control unit 109 which is directly or indirectly connected
to the control device 14 in a wired or wireless manner to move the lock member 34
to the two states of the position of pressing the card 1 and the pass enabling position
of enabling the card 1 to pass. The rule of the baccarat game is programed and stored
in advance in the control unit 109.
[0087] Next, a modified example of the distribution restricting device 30 will be described
with reference to FIG. 6B. In the modified example, the distribution restricting device
40 has a structure where, when the card 1 passes through the slot 33 between the card
guiding portion 105 and the card guide 107 (guide cover), the lock member 36 projects
into the slot 33 to prevent the movement of the card 1. The lock member 36 is moved
by a driving unit 37 such as an electronic solenoid or a piezoelectric device as illustrated
by an arrow m so as to take two states of a position (limiting position) of preventing
the movement of the card 1 and a pass enabling position of enabling the card 1 to
pass. The driving unit 37 is controlled by the control unit 109 which is connected
to the control device 14 to move the lock member 36 to the two states of the position
of preventing the movement of the card 1 and the pass enabling position of enabling
the card 1 to pass.
[0088] Next, details of the code reading unit 108 which reads a code 52 representing a digit
(number, rank) of the card 1 from the card 1 when the card 1 is manually extracted
from the card containing portion 102 will be described. FIG. 5 is a plan diagram illustrating
main components of the card distribution device 3. In the figure, the code reading
unit 108 is provided to the card guiding portion 105 which guides the card 1 manually
extracted one by one from the opening portion 106 in the front side of the card containing
portion 102 onto the gaming table 4. The card guiding portion 105 is formed to have
a slanted surface, and the card guides 107 functioning as a sensor cover are provided
to two edges of the card guiding portion. In addition, each of the two card guides
107 is formed detachable by using a screw or the like (not shown). If the card guides
107 are detached, sensor groups 115 of the code reading unit 108 are exposed. The
sensor group 115 is configured with four sensors including two UV-ray sensitive sensors
(UV sensors) 20 and 21 and object detection sensors 22 and 23.
[0089] The object detection sensors 22 and 23 are optical-fiber type sensors of detecting
the existence of the card 1 and can detect the movement of the card 1. One object
detection sensor 22 is located at the upstream side of the card guiding portion 105
in the card 1 flowing direction, and the other object detection sensor 23 is located
at the downstream side. As illustrated in the figure, the two object detection sensors
22 and 23 are provided at the respective upstream and downstream sides to interpose
the UV sensors 20 and 21. The UV sensors 20 and 21 have LEDs (UV LEDs) emitting a
UV ray and sensors. A mark M of the code 52 is printed on the card 1 by using UV ray
emitting ink which exhibits color if the ink is hit by the UV ray. By irradiating
the card 1 with the UV ray (black light), reflected light of the mark M of the code
52 of the card 1 is sensed by the sensor. The UV sensors 20 and 21 are connected to
the code reading unit 108 and the control unit 109 through cables. In the code reading
unit 108, a combination of the marks M is determined and the number (rank) corresponding
to each code 52 is determined from the output signal of the sensors, that is, the
UV sensors 20 and 21.
[0090] In the code reading unit 108, starting and ending of the UV sensors 20 and 21 are
controlled by the control unit 109 based on the detection signals of the object detection
sensors 22 and 23. In addition, the control unit 109 determines based on the detection
signals of the object detection sensors 22 and 23 whether or not the card 1 passes
through the card guiding portion 105 normally. As illustrated in FIG. 7, two rows
and four columns of the rectangular marks M representing the rank (number) and suit
(heart, spade, or the like) of the card are arranged in the edge of the card 1. If
the UV sensors 20 and 21 sense the mark M, the sensors output "on" signals. The code
reading unit 108 determines a relative relationship between the two signals input
from the two UV sensors 20 and 21. Therefore, the code reading unit 108 specifies
the code according to a relative difference between the two marks M sensed by the
two UV sensors 20 and 21 to specify the number (rank) and type (suit) of the corresponding
card 1.
[0091] The relationship between the code 52 and the outputs of the "on" signals of the two
UV sensors 20 and 21 is illustrated in FIG. 7. Based on the result of comparison of
the relative change of the outputs of the "on" signals of the UV sensors 20 and 21,
a predetermined combination of the marks M can be specified. As a result, four combinations
of the marks M of the up and down two columns are obtained, and if the four combinations
are printed in four columns, 4 to the 4th power, that is, 256 types of codes can be
configured. By assigning 52 types of cards of the playing cards to 256 types of the
codes, details of the assignment is stored as a comparison table in a memory or as
a program, and the code reading unit 108 is configured so that, by specifying each
code 52, the number (rank) and type (suit) of the card 1 is specified from a pre-defined
comparison table (not shown). In addition, since the 256 types of the codes are stored
in the comparison table in a manner that the codes are freely combined to be in association
with the 52 types of the cards, the combinations may be complicated, and thus, the
combinations of the 256 types of the codes and the 52 types of the card can be changed
according to time and location. It is preferable that the code is printed by using
a paint which is visualized by being irradiated with UV light and the code is printed
at a position where the codes do not overlap a type indicator or index 103 of the
card.
[0092] Hereinafter, the game management system of this embodiment will be described with
reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a schematic view of casino facilities to which
a game management system 100 of this embodiment is introduced. As illustrated in FIG.
8, a plurality of gaming tables 4 are disposed in the casino facilities, and a casino
game is performed in each of the gaming tables 4. In the gaming table 4, one side
is a dealer side on which a dealer is positioned, and the other side is a player side
on which a player is positioned. In the example of FIG. 8, an upper side of each of
the gaming tables 4 is the player side, and a lower side is the dealer side.
[0093] Betting is performed on the gaming table 4 by using chips 9. In each game, the player
places the type and the number of chips 9 to be bet by himself in an area corresponding
to a betting target on the gaming table 4, and thus, performs betting.
[0094] In chips 9, the design of a front surface and a side surface is different for each
type, and any one of the front surface and the side surface is observed, and thus,
the type can be specified. In this embodiment, a value different for each type (for
example, 1000 dollars, 100 dollars, 10 dollars, or the like) is applied to the chips
9. Accordingly, the type is specified, and thus, the value of the chip 9 is specified.
[0095] An RF tag recording information of being capable of specifying at least the type
is built in the chips 9. The information recorded in the RF tag (RF tag information)
may include information indicating the type of chip 9, or may include identification
information uniquely specifying the chips 9. In a case where the RF tag information
is the identification information, a database is prepared in which information of
a type corresponding to the identification information is stored, and thus, it is
possible to specify the type corresponding to the identification information read
out from the chips 9, with reference to the database. In this embodiment, both of
the information indicating the type and the identification information are recorded
in the RF tag of the chip 9, and the value can be specified by the information indicating
the type.
[0096] A chip tray 17 is disposed on a dealer side of the gaming table 4. The chips 9 of
the dealer are contained in the chip tray 17. An antenna 173 for reading out the RF
tag information of the RF tag built in the chips 9 is disposed on the inside or the
outside of the chip tray 17. The antenna 173 receives an electrical wave from the
RF tag of the chips 9 contained in the chip tray 17.
[0097] A card distribution device 3 which also functions as a win or lose determination
device is disposed on the gaming table 4 to be used. As described above, in this embodiment,
the card distribution device 3 determines a win or lose result of any one of for each
game, according to a rule of a baccarat game the winning of the player, the winning
of a banker, and a tie. That is, the card distribution device 3 is an electronic shoe
including a card containing portion 102 containing playing cards is, a card guiding
portion 105 and an opening portion 106 configuring an extraction mechanism for extracting
the playing cards is one by one from the card containing portion 102, card detection
sensors 22 and 23 and a card reading unit 108 configuring a detection unit detecting
the contents of the playing cards 1 extracted by the extraction mechanism, and a control
unit 109 as a determination unit determining a game result of the baccarat game on
the basis of the contents of the playing cards detected by the card reading unit 108,
according to the rule of the baccarat game.
[0098] A camera 2 is disposed on each of the gaming tables 4. The camera 2 is attached
to a tip end of a pole extending towards the upper side, and is disposed on a high
portion of the gaming table 4. A capturing direction and an angular field of the camera
2 are set such that the camera 2 is capable of capturing a range including at least
a betting area of the gaming table 4 (an area where the player places the chips 9
in order for betting), the card distribution device 3, and the chip tray 17. The camera
2 is capable of obtaining an image by capturing the bet chips.
[0099] Furthermore, in the example of FIG. 8, one camera 2 is disposed on each of the gaming
tables 4, but a plurality of cameras 2 of which at least one of the dispose positions,
the capturing directions, or the angular fields are different from each other, may
be disposed on each of the gaming tables 4 to capture different ranges. For example,
the camera 2 capturing the betting area and the camera 2 capturing the chip tray 17
may be separately disposed, or the same betting area may be captured by a plurality
of cameras of which the disposition heights are different from each other, and the
capturing directions are different from each other.
[0100] A control device 14 is further disposed on each of the gaming tables 4. The control
device 14 is connected to the camera 2 of the gaming table 4 (in a case where the
number of cameras 2 is plural, a plurality of cameras 2), the card distribution device
3, and the RF antenna 173. The control device 14 has a plurality of functions as an
information processing device.
[0101] First, the control device 14 has a function as an RF reader, which specifies the
type of all of the chips 9 contained in the chip tray 17, on the basis of the electrical
wave received by the antenna 173, calculates the total amount of the chips 9 contained
in the chip tray 17, and records the total amount. In addition, the control device
14 has a function of receiving the win or lose result of each of the games from the
card distribution device 3, and of recording the result. Further, the control device
14 has a function as an image recognition device, which acquires a captured image
from the camera 2, performs image recognition using a machine learning model, with
respect to the captured image, and recognizes betting contents, that is, how much
the player bets on the betting target, which player bets, which betting target the
player bets on. The machine learning model may be a neural network of a deep learning
structure. Specifically, the control device 14 specifies the player and the betting
target on the basis of the positions of the chips 9 in the captured image, and specifies
the betting amount on the basis of the type and the number of chips 9 in the captured
image.
[0102] Thus, the control device 14 recognizes the total amount of the chips 9 contained
in the chip tray 17 (hereinafter, also referred to as a "dealer amount") by using
the antenna 173, recognizes the win or lose result of the game (hereinafter, also
referred to as a "game result") by using the card distribution device 3, and recognizes
the betting contents by using the image from the camera 2, for each game, on each
of the gaming tables 4. It is possible to calculate the sales and the profit of the
casino manager in each of the games, on the basis of such information (the chip tray
total amount, the game result, and the betting contents).
[0103] The game management system 100 includes a management device 50 connected to the control
device 14 of the plurality of gaming tables 4. The management device 50 is configured
of a general-purpose computer. The management device 50 includes an arithmetic device
51 and a recording apparatus 52. The general-purpose processor executes a computer
program of this embodiment, and thus, the arithmetic device 51, for example, is realized.
The arithmetic device 51 includes a calculation unit 511, a table creation unit 512,
and an alarming unit 513.
[0104] The calculation unit 511 acquires the information of the dealer amount, the game
result, and the betting contents for each game, from the plurality of control devices
14, and calculates the sales, the profit (the gross), and the profit rate (a gross
rate) for each gaming table 4. The table creation unit 512 creates a table and a graph
in which the sales and the profits calculated by the calculation unit 511 are arranged
in time series for each table.
[0105] Furthermore, the calculation unit 511 may calculate the sales, the profit, and the
profit rate for each position of the player on each of the gaming tables 4, and the
table creation unit 512 may create the table and the graph in which the sales, the
profits, and the profit rates are arranged in time series for each position of the
player on each of the gaming tables 4. In addition, in a case where the game management
system 100 includes a section recognizing the player, the sales according to the betting
of the player and the profit obtained from the player may be calculated, and the table
and the graph may be created, for each player.
[0106] The recording apparatus 52 records the sales, the profit, and the profit rate calculated
by the calculation unit 511, in the form of the table and the graph created by the
table creation unit 512.
[0107] Specifically, the calculation unit 511 calculates the total amount (the sales) of
the betting amount for each of the plurality of gaming tables 4 and each game, obtains
the degree of collection or the redemption with respect to which betting target, on
the basis of the betting target, the betting amount, and the game result, and calculates
the profit of the casino manager. In addition, the calculation unit 511 obtains a
difference in the dealer amount before and after the table game, for each of the plurality
of gaming tables 4 and each game, and thus, calculates the profit of the casino manager.
The profit of the former is a so-called theoretical value, and the profit of the latter
is a so-called result value, and it is necessary that the theoretical value and the
result value are coincident with each other. The calculation unit 511 determines whether
or not the theoretical value and the result value are coincident with each other,
and in a case where the theoretical value and the result value are coincident with
each other, the profit is adopted, and in a case where the theoretical value and the
result value are not coincident with each other, a warning to that effect may be generated.
[0108] The calculation unit 511 further calculates the total amount (the sales) of the betting
amount for each of the plurality of tables 4 and each game. In addition, the calculation
unit 511 calculates the profit rate (the gross rate) (= Profit/Sales) on the basis
of the sales and the profit (the gross) of a predetermined period or a predetermined
number of games.
[0109] The table creation unit 512 adds up the sales, the profit, and the profit rate calculated
by the calculation unit 511, and creates various tables and graphs. FIG. 9 is an example
of a table indicating the sales (the total amount of the betting amount) for each
gaming table 4, created by the table creation unit 512. As illustrated in FIG. 9,
the table creation unit 512 creates a table indicating the number of bet chips 9 of
each type for each gaming table 4. The number of respective chips 9, for example,
may be an added-up number for each predetermined time such as a time period from o
hours to o hours on the next day. In a case where the casino facilities are not in
24-hour operations, the number of respective chips 9 may be an added-up number for
each business hour for one day. Further, the number of respective chips 9 may be an
added-up result within a predetermined time in the past, on the basis of a creation
time. The table further includes the total amount of chips (the sales) in each of
the gaming tables 4. According to the table, it is possible to compare the sales in
the same time zone for each gaming table, and to know the total sales of the all of
the casino facilities in the time zone.
[0110] FIG. 10 is an example of a table indicating the sales for each game in each of the
gaming tables 4, created by the table creation unit 512. FIG. 10 is a table illustrating
the sales with respect to Table 1. As illustrated in FIG. 10, the table creation unit
512 creates a table indicating the number of various bet chips 9 for each game. The
table creation unit 512 may create one table by separating the table for certain period
of time (for example, 24 hours or one business day), or may create a table for each
predetermined number of games (for example, 80 games). In addition, the table creation
unit 512 may create a table within a predetermined time in the past or for a predetermined
number of games, at a table creation time point.
[0111] FIG. 11 is an example of a table indicating the total amount of the betting amount
(the sales), the profit (the gross), and the profit rate for each gaming table 4,
created by the table creation unit 512. As illustrated in FIG. 11, the table creation
unit 512 creates a table indicating the total amount of the betting amount (the sales)
(the total betting amount), the profit (the gross) (the gross profit), the profit
rate (the gross rate) (= Profit/Sales) (a profit ratio) for each gaming table 4. The
table creation unit 512 may create one table by separating the table for a certain
period of time (for example, 24 hours, one week, one month, or the like), or may create
a table for each predetermined number of games (for example, 100 games, 1000 games,
or the like). In addition, the table creation unit 512 may create a table within a
predetermined time in the past or for a predetermined number of games, at a table
creation time point.
[0112] FIG. 12 is an example of a polygonal line graph illustrating a transition of the
profit in each of the gaming tables 4, created by the table creation unit 512, and
FIG. 13 is an example of a graph illustrating a transition of the profit of all of
the casino facilities. In case where the casino facilities are operated from 8 a.m.
to 6 a.m. on the next day, the transition of the profit for one business day is illustrated
in the examples of FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. According to the graph as illustrated in FIG.
12 or FIG. 13, the transition of the profit is easily understood, and thus, it is
possible to perform business analysis of the casino facilities. In addition, the transition
of the profit for each table is indicated as illustrated in FIG. 12, and thus, a table
having a peculiar transition of the profit is easily found.
[0113] FIG. 14 is an example of a bar graph illustrating a profit rate for each gaming table
4, created by the table creation unit 512. According to the bar graph, the quantity
of the profit obtained in each of the gaming tables 4 becomes obvious.
[0114] Furthermore, in the examples described above, the calculation unit 511 and the table
creation unit 512 calculate the sales, the profit, and the profit rate for each gaming
table 4, and create the table or the graph, but instead thereof or in addition thereto,
may calculate the sales, the profit, and the profit rate for each pit in which the
plurality of gaming tables 4 are collected, and may create a table or a graph.
[0115] The calculation unit 511 may calculate the sales, the profit, and the profit rate
whenever the information of the dealer amount, the game result, and the betting contents
is acquired for each game, or may calculate the sales, the profit, and the profit
rate at a timing when the table creation unit 512 creates a table.
[0116] The table creation unit 512 may create a table for each period targeted by the table
or the graph. For example, in a case where the table creation unit 512 creates a graph
illustrating a transition of the sales for one day (for 24 hours) on each of the gaming
tables 4, the table may be automatically created every 24 hours (as soon as the data
is collected). Alternatively, the table creation unit 512 may create the table or
the graph at a manually indicated timing, regardless of the period targeted by the
table or the graph. Alternatively, the table creation unit 512 may automatically create
the table or the graph at an interval shorter than the period targeted by the table
or the graph. For example, adding-up for 24 hours in the past may be performed every
6 hours, and thus, the table or the graph may be created.
[0117] The alarming unit 513 determines that a peculiar situation occurs on the basis of
the sales, the profit, and the profit rate calculated by the calculation unit 511,
and the adding-up of the table creation unit 512, and generates an alarm. For example,
the alarming unit 513 may compare the profit rate calculated by the calculation unit
511 or the profit rate for a predetermined period or for a predetermined number of
games, added up by the table creation unit 512, with a predetermined first threshold
value, and may generate an alarm when the profit rate is less than or equal to the
first threshold value, or may compare the profit rate calculated by the calculation
unit 511 or the profit rate for a predetermined period or for a predetermined number
of games, added up by the table creation unit 512, with a predetermined second threshold
value, and may generate an alarm when the profit rate is greater than or equal to
the second threshold value. In addition, the alarming unit 513 may compare the profit
and the sales with a predetermined threshold value, and thus, may generate an alarm.
[0118] The alarming unit 513 may perform more complicated analysis with respect to the sales
or the profit, and may find a peculiar situation. For example, the alarming unit 513
may generate an alarm on the basis of the transition of the profit rate in the table
or graph created by the table creation unit 512. In this case, the peculiar situation
may be determined by using the machine learning model. The machine learning model
may be a model of outputting a probability of being peculiar by using the transition
of the profit rate obtained by the adding-up of the table creation unit 512 as input,
and in a case where the probability is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold
value, the alarming unit 513 may determine that it is the peculiar situation, and
may generate an alarm.
[0119] The alarm may be realized by a section of attaching a mark to an element which is
determined as being peculiar in the table or the graph created by the table creation
unit 512, and in addition, in a case where such a peculiar situation occurs, the alarm
may be realized by generating and outputting an image, a sound, a driving signal of
an alarm device (a lamp, a buzzer, or the like), and the like. In the example of FIG.
11, the alarm is realized by hatching Table 3 in which the profit rate is less than
0%.
[0120] As described above, according to the above embodiment, in the game table 4, the bet
contents are determined by the camera 2 and the control device 14 as the image recognition
device, the game result is determined by the card distribution device 3, and the dealer
amount is determined by the antenna and the RF reader and the information is intensively
managed by the management devices 50 and 60, and as a result, it is possible to automatically
determine the sales, the profit, the profit rate, etc. of a casino operator.
[0121] In the embodiment described above, the win or lose determination device is realized
by the card distribution device 3, that is, the card distribution device 3 has a configuration
of performing win or lose determination, but the win or lose determination may be
performed by the control device 14. In this case, from the card distribution device
3, the information read out from the distributed card (card reading information) is
transmitted to the control device 14, and the control device 14 determines the win
or lose result of the game according to the game rule, on the basis of the card reading
information from the card distribution device 3, as the win or lose determination
device.
[0122] In addition, in the embodiment described above, the calculation unit 511 calculates
the sales, the profit, and the profit rate, and the table creation unit 512 creates
the table or the graph by adding up the calculated sales, profit, and profit rate,
but instead thereof, a part or all of the adding-up may be performed by the calculation
unit 511, and the table creation unit 512 may create the table or the graph by using
the added-up result of the calculation unit 511.
(Second Embodiment)
[0123] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a game management system
101 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The game management
system 101 includes a plurality of gaming tables 4 on which a casino game is performed
and a management control device 60 which manages games in each gaming table 4, and
manages casino games which are performed by a plurality of gaming tables 4 in a casino
facility. The plurality of gaming tables 4 are arranged in each area of the casino
facility. In the present embodiment, the fixed number of each gaming table 4 is eight,
that is, the gaming table 4 has eight player positions.
[0124] Each gaming table 4 is provided with a camera 2. The camera 2 is fixed to a pole.
By photographing a bet area on the gaming table 4, the camera 2 photographs chips
9 placed in the bet area to obtain images. The camera 2 also photographs the player
positions to photograph players who participate in a game on the gaming table 4, thereby
obtaining the images.
[0125] Although FIG. 15 shows an example in which one camera 2 is installed in each gaming
table 4, a camera for photographing a bet area and a camera for photographing a player
may be separately installed, and furthermore, a plurality of cameras for photographing
different portions in the bet area may be installed or a plurality of cameras for
photographing different player positions may be installed. In addition, the bet area
and the player may each be photographed by changing an angle between an angle at which
one camera 2 photographs the bet area and an angle at which a player is photographed.
[0126] Each gaming table 4 is provided with a display 15 as a display device. The display
15 is fixed to a pole provided on the gaming table 4, and is installed at a position
where not only players participating in the game but also those therearound can view
the display 15. Various pieces of information including the minimum bet amount set
in the gaming table 4 are displayed on the display 15.
[0127] The display 15 is typically a liquid crystal panel, but may be a display device in
which LED lamps are two-dimensionally disposed. In addition, in the example of FIG.
15, the camera 2 and the display 15 are separately installed, but may be fixed to
the same pole. For example, it is possible to make the camera 2 inconspicuous by installing
the camera 2 just under the display 15.
[0128] Each gaming table 4 is provided with a control device 14 as an information processing
device. A computer executes a predetermined program, so the control device 14 realizes
a plurality of functions to be described below. First, the control device 14 analyzes
the image of the bet area obtained by the camera 2, thereby specifying a bet amount
at each player position of the gaming table 4 on the basis of the position, the type,
and the number of chips 9 in the image. For analyzing this image, various image recognition
techniques can be adopted. For example, the bet amount at each player position may
be obtained as an output by inputting the image of the bet area to a learned deep
neural network.
[0129] The control device 14 further functions as a player number determination device which
analyzes the image of the player position to determine the number of players participating
in the game on the gaming table 4. The existing face recognition technology can be
used for this identification of the player, and may use machine learning such as a
support vector machine (SVM) or the like.
[0130] The control device 14 also has a function as a display control device which performs
a control to display the predetermined information on the display 15. Further, the
control device 14 may be connected to an operation input device (not shown), and may
receive an operation input of a dealer from the operation input device. Further, the
control device 14 may be connected to a card distribution device having a win/loss
determination function on the gaming table 4, an RFID system reading an RF tag embedded
in the chip 9 or the like, and may perform various kinds of information processing
thereon.
[0131] The control device 14 provided in each gaming table 4 is connected to a management
control device 60 in a wired or wireless communication manner. The management control
device 60 includes an arithmetic device 61 and a recording apparatus 62, and the arithmetic
device 61 includes a recommended value determination unit 611 realized by allowing
a processor to execute a predetermined program, a congestion degree determination
unit 612, a table opening/closing determination unit 613, a dealer management unit
614, and a player management unit 615.
[0132] Based on information on a bet amount specified by the control device 14 and information
on the number of players determined by the control device 14 functioning as the player
number determination device, the recommended value determination unit 611 determines
a recommended value of a minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4. The recommended
value determination unit 611 determines the recommended value of the minimum bet amount
for each gaming table 4 so as to increase a profit ratio to sales. In addition, the
recommended value determination unit 611 may determine the recommended value of the
minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4 so as to increase the number of games per
unit time or an average value of the total bet amounts per game.
[0133] Candidates for the minimum bet amount divided into a plurality of stages are set
in the recommended value determination unit 611. In the present embodiment, candidates
for a minimum bet amount of five stages such as 100 dollars, 500 dollars, 1,000 dollars,
5,000 dollars, and 10,000 dollars are set in the recommended value determination unit
611. The recommended value determination unit 611 determines a recommended value by
selecting one of these candidates for the minimum bet amount. In addition, the recommended
value determination unit 611 determines the recommended value of more appropriate
minimum bet amount in addition to the set candidates, so that it may be possible to
perform classification more finely when the candidates for the preset minimum bet
amount is inappropriate.
[0134] The management control device 60 outputs (transmits) the determined recommended value
of the minimum bet amount to the control device 14 of the corresponding gaming table
4. The control device 14 displays the minimum bet amount on the display 15 on the
basis of the recommended value received from the management control device 60. When
receiving the recommended value of the minimum bet amount from the management control
device 60, the control device 14 may display the recommended value on the display
15 as it is or may display the recommended value only to the dealer once and may display
the recommended value on the display 15 in accordance with the operation of the dealer.
(Recommendation of Minimum Bet Amount Based on Actual Bet Amount)
[0135] The recommended value determination unit 611 determines the recommended value by
selecting the candidates for the minimum bet amount divided into a plurality of stages
on the basis of the information on the number of players determined by the control
device 14 as the player number determination device, the information on the bet amount
which is the lowest amount among the bet amounts at each player position or the information
on the average bet amount.
[0136] The recommended value determination unit 611 determines the total bet amount for
each gaming table, each game and/or each predetermined time or period, and determines
the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4. In the present
embodiment, the recommended value determination unit 611 increases the recommended
value of the minimum bet amount when the number of players betting at a predetermined
ratio or more with respect to the current minimum bet amount for the gaming table
4 is equal to or more than a predetermined ratio.
[0137] Specifically, the recommended value determination unit 611 ranks as a high betting
player a player in which the minimum amount among the bet amounts of the predetermined
number of past games (five games in the present embodiment) at each player position
for each gaming table 4 is equal to or more than a predetermined ratio (150% in the
present embodiment) of the minimum bet amount. When the high betting player is equal
to or more than the predetermined ratio (50% in the present embodiment), the recommended
value determination unit 611 determines as the recommended value the minimum bet amount
which is more than the already set minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4.
[0138] FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams showing an example of determining a recommended value
of a minimum bet amount according to an actual bet amount. In the example of FIGS.
16A and 16B, four players are participating in the game, and the minimum bet amount
is set to 1,000 dollars.
[0139] In the example of FIG. 16A, the lowest amount among bet amounts in the past five
games of a player 1 is 1,000 dollars, the lowest amount among bet amounts in the past
five games of a player 2 is 2,000 dollars, the lowest amount among bet amounts in
the past five games of a player 3 is 1,500 dollars, and the lowest amount among bet
amounts in the past five games in a player 4 is 1,000 dollars. In this case, for the
player 2 and the player 3, the minimum bet amount of the past five games is equal
to or more than 1,500 dollars which is equal to or more than 150% of the current minimum
bet amount of 1,000 dollars, and the player 2 and the player 3 are ranked as the high
betting player. Since a ratio of high betting players (two players) among four players
participating in a game is 50% and reaches 50% as a reference, the recommended value
determination unit 611 determines as the recommended value the minimum bet amount
more than the minimum bet amount of 1,000 dollars already set.
[0140] In the example of FIG. 16B, the lowest amount among bet amounts in the past five
games of a player 1 is 1,000 dollars, the lowest amount among bet amounts in the past
five games of a player 2 is 1,500 dollars, the lowest amount among bet amounts in
the past five games of a player 3 is 1,000 dollars, and the lowest amount among bet
amounts in the past five games in a player 4 is 1,100 dollars. In this case, for the
player 2, the lowest bet amount of the past five games is equal to or more than 1,500
dollars which is 150% of the current minimum bet amount of 1,000 dollars, and the
player 2 is ranked as the high betting player. Since a ratio of high betting players
(one player) among four players participating in a game is 25% and does not satisfy
50% as a reference, the recommended value determination unit 611 determines as the
recommended value the current minimum bet amount of 1,000 dollars without changing
the minimum bet amount of 1,000 dollars already set.
[0141] When increasing the minimum bet amount, the recommended value determination unit
611 increases the minimum bet amount by one level and performs the same calculation
as above. In the case of FIG. 16A, when the current minimum bet amount is set to 5,000
dollars which is one level higher, the condition for determining a higher minimum
bet amount as a recommended value is not satisfied, so 5,000 dollars is determined
as the recommended value of the minimum bet amount. When the same calculation is applied
to the minimum bet amount increased by one level, and furthermore when the above condition
is satisfied, the minimum bet amount increases by one level higher, and the increase
in the minimum bet amount is repeated until the above condition is not satisfied.
[0142] In the above example, the recommended value determination unit 611 evaluates the
lowest amount among the bet amounts of the past five games of each player position
(player), but in place of this evaluation, the recommended value determination unit
611 ranks as a high betting player a player in which an average value (average bet
amount) among the bet amounts of the predetermined number of past games (for example,
five games) at each player position for each gaming table 4 is equal to or more than
a predetermined ratio (for example, 300%).
[0143] In addition, in the above example, when the high betting player is equal to or more
than the predetermined ratio, the minimum bet amount is changed to one-level high
amount among the candidates already determined, but in place of this, may be increased
to a predetermined ratio (for example, 150%) of the minimum bet amount. That is, in
the example of FIG. 16A, 1,500 dollars which is 150% of the minimum bet amount of
1,000 dollars may be the recommended value of the minimum bet amount.
[0144] Further, the recommended value determination unit 611 may determine a transition
of a bet amount for each player position in a plurality of games, and determine the
recommended value of the minimum bet amount for each gaming table on the basis of
the transition. Alternatively, the card distribution device 3 or the control device
14 determines the result of the game to determine the win and loss and the income
and expenditure at each player position, and the recommended value determination unit
611 may determine the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for each gaming
table on the basis of the information on the transition of the income and expenditure
at each player position.
(Recommendation of Minimum Bet Amount according to Table Congestion Degree)
[0145] Next, the determination of the recommended value of the minimum bet amount according
to the table congestion degree will be described. The congestion degree determination
unit 612 calculates the table congestion degrees of each gaming table on the basis
of the information on the number of players determined by the control device 14 as
the player number determination device. The table congestion degree is the ratio of
the number of players participating in the game to the fixed number of each gaming
table 4. The recommended value determination unit 611 determines the recommended value
of the minimum bet amount for each gaming table 4 according to the table congestion
degree determined by the congestion degree determination unit 612.
[0146] FIGS. 17A and 17B are diagrams showing an example of determining a recommended value
of a minimum bet amount according to a table congestion degree. As shown in FIG. 17A,
there are four gaming tables 4a to 4d, a minimum bet amount for two gaming tables
4a and 4b among the four gaming tables 4a to 4d is set to 10,000 dollars, and a minimum
bet amount for the other two gaming tables 4c and 4d is set to 1,000 dollars.
[0147] As shown in FIG. 17A, in the case of the two gaming tables 4a and 4b whose minimum
bet amount is set to 10,000 dollars, the number of players participating in a game
is many (table congestion degree is high), and in the case of the two gaming tables
4c and 4d whose minimum bet amount is set to 1,000 dollars, the number of players
participating in a game is small (table congestion degree is low).
[0148] Under such circumstances, the recommended value determination unit 611 increases
to 10,000 dollars the minimum bet amount for the gaming table 4d having the smallest
number of players participating in a game among the gaming tables 4c and 4d whose
minimum bet amount is 1,000 dollars. By doing so, as shown in FIG. 17B, players who
participate in the game on the gaming table 4d are expected to move to the gaming
table 4c whose minimum bet amount is 1,000 dollars, and some of the players who participate
in the game on the gaming tables 4a and 4b whose minimum bet amounts is 10,000 dollars
are expected to move to the gaming table 4d whose minimum bet amount increases to
10,000 dollars.
[0149] As described with reference to FIGS. 20A and 20B, it is obvious that sales of a casino
operator are higher in FIG. 17B than in FIG. 17A. As described above, the recommended
value determination unit 611 determines the recommended value of the minimum bet amount
for each gaming table 4 in each area in accordance with the table congestion degree
determined by the congestion degree determination unit 612 so that the high betting
player can be played in the small number of gaming table 4.
[0150] As described above, in the present example, the recommended value determination unit
611 manages the plurality of gaming tables 4, determines the total bet amount of each
player for each game and/or each predetermined time or period for each of the plurality
of gaming tables 4, and determine different recommended values of the minimum bet
amount for each of the plurality of gaming tables 4.
(Opening/Closing of Gaming table based on Area Congestion Degree)
[0151] The congestion degree determination unit 612 calculates the area congestion degrees
of each area when the casino facility is divided into a plurality of areas, on the
basis of the information on the number of players determined by the control device
14 as the player number determination device. The area congestion degree is a ratio
of a total number of players to a total number of player positions in the area. A
table opening/closing determination unit 613 may set as the area congestion degree
the ratio of the gaming table 4 in which the table congestion degree exceeds a predetermined
value (for example, 80%) in each area.
[0152] The table opening/closing determination unit 613 determines all gaming tables 4 in
the casino facility and the number of opened gaming tables 4 among all the gaming
tables and determines a recommended number of the gaming table 4 to be opened in each
area according to the area congestion degree determined by the congestion degree determination
unit 612. Specifically, if the area congestion degree becomes equal to or greater
than a predetermined value (80% in the present embodiment), the table opening/closing
determination unit 613 determines to newly open the gaming table 4 in the area.
[0153] When opening the new gaming table 4, the recommended value determination unit 611
determines the recommended value of the minimum bet amount of the gaming table 4.
The recommended value determination unit 611 may simply set the same minimum bet amount
as the minimum bet amount of the gaming table 4 around the newly opened gaming table
4 in the newly opened gaming table 4. By doing so, a customer can be guided to the
area to be played efficiently.
[0154] On the other hand, when newly opening the gaming table 4, the recommended value determination
unit 611 may determine the recommended value of the minimum bet amount so that the
sales of the casino operator are maximized. FIGS. 18A to 18C are diagrams for describing
an example of opening a new gaming table 4 in a certain area. Again, the average required
time of one game when the player is playing alone is 60 seconds, and the average required
time of one game increases by 10 seconds each time the player increases by one. In
addition, the average bet amount of the high betting player (hatched player in the
figure) is set to 5,000 dollars, and the average bet amount of the low betting player
(player painted in white in the drawing) is set to 1,000 dollars.
[0155] In the case of FIG. 18A, the gaming tables 4a and 4c are opened and seven players
are participating in a game for eight people, in which four of the seven players are
high betting players and three players are low betting players. FIG. 18B shows the
case in which in the situation of FIG. 18A, the gaming table 4b is newly opened and
the minimum bet amount is set to 5,000 dollars. It is considered that as shown in
FIG. 18B, all the high betting players playing on the gaming tables 4a and 4c move
to the gaming table 4b by setting the minimum bet amount of the newly opened gaming
table 4b to 5,000 dollars.
[0156] In the case of FIG. 18B, the average sales of 1,380,000 dollars per hour in the situation
of FIG. 18A decrease to 1,377,000 dollars per hour. In this way, when the gaming table
4 is newly opened, depending on the setting of the minimum bet amount, sales may not
increase greatly or decrease in some cases. In addition, considering the cost incurred
due to the opening of the new gaming table 4, the profit of the casino operator decreases.
[0157] In the case of FIG. 18A, as shown in FIG. 18C, it is effective to set the low minimum
bet amount for the newly opened gaming table 4b and at the same time, increase the
minimum bet amount for the already opened gaming tables 4a and 4c. By doing so, in
the situation of FIG. 18A, the average sales of 1,380,000 dollars per hour increase
to 1,760,000 per hour.
[0158] In this way, the recommended value determination unit 611 determines the minimum
bet amount of the newly opened gaming table 4 on the basis of the minimum bet amount
and the actual bet amount of the gaming table 4 around the gaming table 4. In addition,
as in the example of FIG. 18C, the recommended value determination unit 611 changes
the minimum bet amount of the gaming table 4 therearound at the timing of newly opening
the gaming table 4, thereby urging the player to move from the gaming table 4 therearound
to the newly opened gaming table.
[0159] The dealer management unit 614 manages a dealer who is at work, and the table opening/closing
determination unit 613 determines whether or not to open a new gaming table 4 depending
on the number of dealers. Specifically, even in the case in which the area congestion
degree becomes high, when there are no waiting (available) dealers (that is, when
all dealers are on the gaming table 4) and when there is no gaming table 4 which can
be newly opened (that is, when all the gaming tables 4 are opened), the table opening/closing
determination unit 613 does not determine to open a new gaming table 4 and the recommended
value determination unit 611 copes with the change in the minimum bet amount of the
already opened gaming table 4.
[0160] The congestion degree determination unit 612 can record the transition of the area
congestion degree in each area, and the table opening/closing determination unit 613
may determine the recommended number of the gaming table 4 to be opened in each area
on the basis of the information on the transition recorded by the congestion degree
determination unit 612. That is, when the area congestion degree is increasing, the
table opening/closing determination unit 613 determines to open a new gaming table
4 before the area congestion degree reaches a predetermined value in the area.
[0161] As described above, in the present example, the recommended value determination unit
611 manages the plurality of gaming tables 4, determines the total bet amount of each
player for each game and/or each predetermined time or period for each of the plurality
of gaming tables 4, and determine the recommended value of the minimum bet amount
for the newly opened gaming table.
(Recommendation of Minimum Bet Amount based on Identification of Player)
[0162] The player management unit 615 has a function as a player identification unit which
identifies the player participating in the game on the gaming table. Specifically,
the player management unit 615 analyzes the image at the player position sent from
the control device 14 of each gaming table 4 to identify players at each player position.
For this purpose, the player registers a his/her face image in advance in the management
control device 60. The player management unit 615 identifies the player by comparing
the image sent from the control device 14 with the face image registered in advance.
[0163] The player management unit 615 may identify a player with a storage medium (for example,
a membership card, a point card, or the like) possessed by the player in addition
to or in place of identifying the player on the basis of the face image. An ID for
identifying a player is stored in this storage medium. If a player arrives at the
gaming table 4, the player hands the storage medium to the dealer, and the dealer
reads the ID by a predetermined reading device. The control device 14 transmits the
ID read from the storage medium to the management control device 60. The player management
unit 615 can identify the player by receiving this ID.
[0164] Alternatively, the player management unit 615 may identify a player on the basis
of biological information on the player playing on the gaming table 4. In this case,
for example, a fingerprint recognition device is installed at each player position
on the gaming table, and if a player arrives at the play position, fingerprint authentication
is performed.
[0165] The control device 14 transmits the information on play contents (including a bet
amount, a winning amount, and a lost amount) at each player position to the management
control device 60. The player management unit 615 records information on the play
contents in a recording apparatus 62 as a database which stores the information on
the play contents associated with the ID of the player who is identified at the player
position. In this way, the player management unit 615 records the past play contents
at each player in the recording apparatus 62.
[0166] The player management unit 615 further calculates an average bet amount, an average
continuous play time in the same table, an absence rate when the minimum bet amount
increases, a recent winning percentage, a winning amount, and the like from the past
play contents at each player, and stores the calculated information as tendency information
on each player in the recording apparatus 62 as the database by associating the tendency
information with the ID of the player.
[0167] For each area, the table opening/closing determination unit 613 may determine the
recommended number of gaming tables to be newly opened on the basis of tendency information
on a plurality of players in the area stored in the recording apparatus 62. In addition,
for each area, the recommended value determination unit 611 determines the recommended
value of the minimum bet amount of the currently opened gaming table 4 or the recommended
value of the minimum bet amount of the newly opened gaming table 4 on the basis of
the tendency information on the plurality of players in the area stored in the recording
apparatus 62.
[0168] That is, in the above description, it is assumed from the state of FIG. 18A that
all the high betting players move to the gaming table 4b when a new gaming table 4b
having a relatively high minimum bet amount is opened as shown in FIG. 18B, but actually,
there is a possibility that the player does not move as shown in FIG. 18B. Also, in
FIG. 18C, it is assumed that all the low betting players will leave their seats when
the minimum bet amount increases in the gaming tables 4a and 4c, but the low betting
player increases the bet amount corresponding to the increased minimum bet amount
and remains in the same gaming tables 4a and 4c. Therefore, the recommended value
determination unit 611 performs a simulation using the probability on the basis of
the tendency of each player stored in the recording apparatus 62, and determines the
recommended value of the minimum bet amount so as to maximize sales.
[0169] In the second embodiment described above, as the gaming table 4, a table for playing
a card game such as a baccarat is assumed and described, but the game performed on
the gaming table 4 is not limited to the card game, and the game management system
101 of the second embodiment to all games can be applied to all games obtained by
setting the minimum bet amount.
[0170] In addition, in the second embodiment, in order to determine the number of players,
the image of the player photographed by the camera 2 is analyzed, but the unit which
determines the number of players is not limited thereto. For example, the number of
players can be understood even by a gaming token to be bet. That is, since a betting
position is defined at each player position in a bet area and it is known to which
position a player is betting, it is possible to know how many players are participating
in a game. In other words, the unit which specifies the bet amount at each player
position may also serve as a unit which determines the number of players.
[0171] In addition, in the second embodiment, when the minimum bet amount of the gaming
table 4 increases, the minimum bet amount may increase up to the lowest bet amount
of the player on the gaming table 4. For example, when there are players playing at
1,000 dollars and players playing at 5,000 dollars on a table with a minimum bet amount
of 500 dollars, the minimum bet amount may increase up to 1,000 dollars.
[0172] Further, in the second embodiment, the recommended value of the minimum bet amount
may be determined from the past statistics (in general, the case in which the bet
amount increases in the evening, or the like). For example, in the case where it is
determined from the past statistics that there is the tendency that the bet amount
increases in the evening, the bet amount may increase at a predetermined timing in
the evening.
[0173] Further, in the second embodiment, the management control device 60 may manage a
plurality of gaming tables, determine information on at least one item of the number
of players, the bet amount, or the concentration or distribution of the number of
players, and determine the recommended value of the minimum bet amount for each gaming
table 4 on the basis of the information.